LAKE COUNTY — The Lake County Chapter of California Women for Agriculture (CWA) recently elected and seated new officers for 2008. The Narley Dude Ranch in Kelseyville was the site of a barbecue dinner with entertainment held in late January.
Attendees included a who”s who of Lake County agriculture, including many long-time CWA members and their families.
Installation proceedings were conducted by Marilyn Holdenried, charter president of the local chapter, and by Carolyn Henderson-Rohner, charter member and past president. Holdenried provided information about the founding of the statewide organization in 1976 and the early participation of members from Lake County. She said the underlying impetus for the formation of CWA was for the members to be a “voice for the busy farmer.”
New officers for this year include Stephanie Cruz-Green and Joanne Van Eck, co-presidents; Sausha Racine, vice president; Rachel Elkins, secretary; and Carol Robertson, treasurer. Area representatives are Sue Steiner and Sally Beckner, South County; Matilda Robinson and Rachel Quist, Upper Lake; Jan Eckert and Linda Juntunen, Lakeport; and Nellie Dorn and Marilyn Holdenried, Kelseyville. Margaret Eutenier will produce the Chapter”s membership newsletter.
Introduced at the dinner were charter members Toni Scully, Janice Stokes, Sara Dorn and Carmen Carpenter, along with several members who have served as Chapter president and state officer during the past 32 years. Entertainment was provided by cowboy poet John Martin and cowboy folk singer Scott Gerber, both of Sonoma County. The Suenram family and their Smokin” S BBQ Company served the chicken and tri tip dinner, which was accompanied by Lake County wines furnished by CWA members.
The new co-presidents encouraged members to participate in activities during the coming year, including consumer education, Ag in the Classroom, the Lake County Fair, and the Kelseyville Pear Festival. Cooperation with other agricultural organizations in Lake County will be emphasized.
Membership in CWA is open to anyone interested in agricultural issues and topics ? “If you eat food and wear clothes, you are involved in agriculture,” is the invitation from the statewide organization of over 1800 members. CWA functions as a non-partisan, non-sectarian, non-commercial action group.
The Lake County Chapter of CWA may be contacted by mail at P.O. Box 279, Finley, 95435, or by calling the co-presidents: Stephanie Cruz-Green, 349-4365; and Joanne Van Eck, 279-0915.
Contact Elizabeth Wilson at ewilson@record-bee.com.
